Paging early indication location determination

ABSTRACT

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for PEI location determination. According to certain aspects, a method of wireless communication by a user equipment (UE) includes receiving, from a network entity, a configuration of a paging early indication (PEI) that indicates, for multiple paging occasions (POs) in multiple paging frames (PFs), whether paging physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) are scheduled in the multiple POs, identifying a reference PF from one of the multiple PFs, and monitoring for the PEI in a location of a PEI occasion determined based on the reference PF and at least one timing offset.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 63/266,558, filed Jan. 7, 2022, which isassigned to the assignee of the present application and is expresslyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

INTRODUCTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications, andmore particularly, to techniques for locating paging early indication(PEI) occasions.

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustelecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging,broadcasts, or other similar types of services. These wirelesscommunication systems may employ multiple-access technologies capable ofsupporting communication with multiple users by sharing available systemresources with those users (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, or otherresources). Multiple-access technologies can rely on any of codedivision, time division, frequency division orthogonal frequencydivision, single-carrier frequency division, or time divisionsynchronous code division, to name a few. These and other multipleaccess technologies have been adopted in various telecommunicationstandards to provide a common protocol that enables different wirelessdevices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and evenglobal level.

Although wireless communication systems have made great technologicaladvancements over many years, challenges still exist. For example,complex and dynamic environments can still attenuate or block signalsbetween wireless transmitters and wireless receivers, underminingvarious established wireless channel measuring and reporting mechanisms,which are used to manage and optimize the use of finite wireless channelresources. Consequently, there exists a need for further improvements inwireless communications systems to overcome various challenges.

SUMMARY

One aspect provides a method of wireless communication by a userequipment (UE), including receiving, from a network entity, aconfiguration of a paging early indication (PEI) that indicates, formultiple paging occasions (POs) in multiple paging frames (PFs), whetherpaging physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) are scheduled in themultiple POs; identifying a reference PF from one of the multiple PFs;and monitoring for the PEI in a location of a PEI occasion determinedbased on the reference PF and at least one timing offset.

One aspect provides a method of wireless communication by a networkentity, including transmitting, to a UE, a configuration of a PEI thatindicates, for multiple POs in multiple PFs, whether paging PDCCHs arescheduled in the multiple POs; identifying a reference PF from one ofthe multiple PFs; and transmitting a PEI in a location of a PEI occasiondetermined based on the reference PF and at least one timing offset.

Other aspects provide: an apparatus operable, configured, or otherwiseadapted to perform the aforementioned methods as well as those describedelsewhere herein; a non-transitory, computer-readable media comprisinginstructions that, when executed by one or more processors of anapparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the aforementioned methods aswell as those described elsewhere herein; a computer program productembodied on a computer-readable storage medium comprising code forperforming the aforementioned methods as well as those describedelsewhere herein; and an apparatus comprising means for performing theaforementioned methods as well as those described elsewhere herein. Byway of example, an apparatus may comprise a processing system, a devicewith a processing system, or processing systems cooperating over one ormore networks.

The following description and the appended figures set forth certainfeatures for purposes of illustration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended figures depict certain features of the various aspectsdescribed herein and are not to be considered limiting of the scope ofthis disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example wirelesscommunication network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating aspects of anexample of a base station and user equipment.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D depict various example aspects of datastructures for a wireless communication network.

FIG. 4 depicts an example timeline for paging early indication (PEI)occasions and paging occasions (POs), in accordance with certain aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts a call flow diagram for PEI occasion locationdetermination, in accordance with certain aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B depict an example of PEI occasion locationdetermination, in accordance with certain aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B depicts an example timeline for PEI occasionlocation determination, in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict example processes of wireless communicationaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 10 and 11 depict example communication devices according toaspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatuses, methods,processing systems, and computer-readable mediums for determining thelocation of paging early indication (PEI) occasions. The techniques mayallow a user equipment (UE) and base station (BS) to coordinate thelocation and be synchronized as to the location of a physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) monitoring occasion to be used for a PEI.

A UE may save battery power by entering an idle or inactive mode whilemonitoring paging information (e.g., at sparse occasions), such as aPDCCH, from the network to receive system information block (SIB)updates, earthquake and tsunami warning system (ETWS) messages, and/orvarious other messages when the UE is paged. To allow the UE to stay ina low power state longer, a PEI may be used.

A PEI generally refers to a signal or message that is used as apreceding notice before the transmission of actual paging messages incorresponding paging occasions (POs). By monitoring for PEIs, the UE mayonly monitor subsequent POs for paging if an associated PEI indicatespaging for the UE in those POs. A potential advantage of such aPDCCH-based PEI is that it may convey more information than asequence-based PEI. For example, a PDCCH-based PEI may be able toprovide an indication for multiple POs. This aggregation of informationmay help reduce the signaling load on a paging channel. A PEIconfiguration may indicate what type of information is conveyed in aPDCCH-based PEI, such as the number of POs indicated by the PEI and anumber of copies of PEIs transmitted (e.g., to increase the likelihoodof a PEI being successfully received). PEI occasions (PEI-O) may be PEIPDCCH monitoring occasions transmitted on all synchronization signalblock (SSB) beams.

In some systems, a single PEI may be used to indicate whether a UE ispaged in one or multiple POs across multiple PFs. In such cases, the UEmay determine a PEI-O to monitor by applying frame-level andsystem-level timing offsets from a reference point (in time), determinedbased on a start of a reference PF.

Unfortunately, there can be uncertainty about which PF is to be used asthe reference PF for applying the frame-level timing offset. As aresult, it might not always be clear which PF is to be used as thereference PF for applying the frame-level timing offset. This ambiguitymay lead a UE to unnecessarily monitor too many PEI occasions, resultingin wasted processing power. Further, this ambiguity could also cause theUE to miss a PEI and the corresponding page, which may lead to delays inreaching the UE and degradation of system performance and userexperience.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide various solutions that mayhelp remove this ambiguity, helping a UE and base station staysynchronized as to the location of PEI occasions. For example, afterreceiving a configuration of a PEI that indicates whether paging PDCCHsare scheduled in multiple POs in multiple PFs, aspects of the presentdisclosure allow the UE to identify a reference PF from one of themultiple PFs. The UE may monitor for the PEI in a location of a PEIoccasion determined based on the reference PF and a timing offset.

In some cases, the timing offset may include a frame-level timing offsetand a symbol-level timing offset. In such cases, the UE determines thelocation of the PEI occasion by determining a reference point that isthe frame-level timing offset before a start of the reference PF anddetermining a start of the PEI occasion that is the symbol-level timingoffset before the reference point. Identifying the reference PF mayinvolve identifying one of the multiple PFs whose start is offset, froma configured PDCCH monitoring occasion (PMO) of the PEI occasion, by theframe-level and symbol-level timing offset. In some cases, identifyingthe reference PF is based on a start offset configured by the networkentity.

The proposed aspects may help remove uncertainty in reference timing,allowing a UE to uniquely identify a PEI-O to monitor. Removinguncertainty in reference timing may help the UE avoid monitoring toomany PEI-Os, which may help avoid unnecessary power consumption. Theproposed aspects may also help the UE avoid missing PEIs, which may helpavoid delays in reaching the UE, thereby improving system performanceand user experience.

Introduction to Wireless Communication Networks

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a wireless communication network 100, inwhich aspects described herein may be implemented.

Generally, wireless communication network 100 includes base stations(BSs) 102, user equipments (UEs) 104, one or more core networks, such asan Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 160 and 5G Core (5GC) network 190, whichinteroperate to provide wireless communications services.

BSs 102 may provide an access point to the EPC 160 and/or 5GC 190 for aUE 104, and may perform one or more of the following functions: transferof user data, radio channel ciphering and deciphering, integrityprotection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g.,handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination,connection setup and release, load balancing, distribution fornon-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization,radio access network (RAN) sharing, multimedia broadcast multicastservice (MBMS), subscriber and equipment trace, RAN informationmanagement (RIM), paging, positioning, delivery of warning messages,among other functions. Base stations may include and/or be referred toas a gNB, NodeB, eNB, ng-eNB (e.g., an eNB that has been enhanced toprovide connection to both EPC 160 and 5GC 190), an access point, a basetransceiver station, a radio base station, a radio transceiver, or atransceiver function, or a transmission reception point in variouscontexts.

A base station, such as BS 102, may include components that are locatedat a single physical location or components located at various physicallocations. In examples in which the base station includes componentsthat are located at various physical locations, the various componentsmay each perform various functions such that, collectively, the variouscomponents achieve functionality that is similar to a base station thatis located at a single physical location. As such, a base station mayequivalently refer to a standalone base station or a base stationincluding components that are located at various physical locations orvirtualized locations. In some implementations, a base station includingcomponents that are located at various physical locations may bereferred to as or may be associated with a disaggregated radio accessnetwork (RAN) architecture, such as an Open RAN (O-RAN) or VirtualizedRAN (VRAN) architecture. In some implementations, such components of abase station may include or refer to one or more of a central unit (CU),a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU).

BSs 102 wirelessly communicate with UEs 104 via communications links120. Each of BSs 102 may provide communication coverage for a respectivegeographic coverage area 110, which may overlap in some cases. Forexample, small cell 102′ (e.g., a low-power base station) may have acoverage area 110′ that overlaps the coverage area 110 of one or moremacrocells (e.g., high-power base stations).

The communication links 120 between BSs 102 and UEs 104 may includeuplink (UL) (also referred to as reverse link) transmissions from a UE104 to a BS 102 and/or downlink (DL) (also referred to as forward link)transmissions from a BS 102 to a UE 104. The communication links 120 mayuse multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology,including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and/or transmit diversityin various aspects.

Examples of UEs 104 include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a sessioninitiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a multimediadevice, a video device, a digital audio player, a camera, a gameconsole, a tablet, a smart device, a wearable device, a vehicle, anelectric meter, a gas pump, a large or small kitchen appliance, ahealthcare device, an implant, a sensor/actuator, a display, or othersimilar devices. Some of UEs 104 may be internet of things (IoT) devices(e.g., parking meter, gas pump, toaster, vehicles, heart monitor, orother IoT devices), always on (AON) devices, or edge processing devices.UEs 104 may also be referred to more generally as a station, a mobilestation, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, awireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, awireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriberstation, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, aremote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, or a client.

Communications using higher frequency bands may have higher path lossand a shorter range compared to lower frequency communications.Accordingly, certain base stations (e.g., 180 in FIG. 1 ) may utilizebeamforming 182 with a UE 104 to improve path loss and range. Forexample, base station 180 and the UE 104 may each include a plurality ofantennas, such as antenna elements, antenna panels, and/or antennaarrays to facilitate the beamforming.

In some cases, base station 180 may transmit a beamformed signal to UE104 in one or more transmit directions 182′. UE 104 may receive thebeamformed signal from the base station 180 in one or more receivedirections 182″. UE 104 may also transmit a beamformed signal to thebase station 180 in one or more transmit directions 182″. Base station180 may also receive the beamformed signal from UE 104 in one or morereceive directions 182′. Base station 180 and UE 104 may then performbeam training to determine the best receive and transmit directions foreach of base station 180 and UE 104. Notably, the transmit and receivedirections for base station 180 may or may not be the same. Similarly,the transmit and receive directions for UE 104 may or may not be thesame.

Wireless communication network 100 includes PEI location determinationcomponent 199, which may identify locations of configured PEI occasions.Wireless communication network 100 further includes PEI locationdetermination component 198, which may be used to identify locations ofconfigured PEI occasions.

FIG. 2 depicts aspects of an example BS 102 and a UE 104. Generally, BS102 includes various processors (e.g., 220, 230, 238, and 240), antennas234 a-t (collectively 234), transceivers 232 a-t (collectively 232),which include modulators and demodulators, and other aspects, whichenable wireless transmission of data (e.g., data source 212) andwireless reception of data (e.g., data sink 239). For example, BS 102may send and receive data between itself and UE 104.

BS 102 includes controller/processor 240, which may be configured toimplement various functions related to wireless communications. In thedepicted example, controller/processor 240 includes PEI locationdetermination component 241, which may be representative of PEI locationdetermination component 199 of FIG. 1 . Notably, while depicted as anaspect of controller/processor 240, PEI location determination component241 may be implemented additionally or alternatively in various otheraspects of B S 102 in other implementations.

Generally, UE 104 includes various processors (e.g., 258, 264, 266, and280), antennas 252 a-r (collectively 252), transceivers 254 a-r(collectively 254), which include modulators and demodulators, and otheraspects, which enable wireless transmission of data (e.g., data source262) and wireless reception of data (e.g., data sink 260).

UE 104 includes controller/processor 280, which may be configured toimplement various functions related to wireless communications. In thedepicted example, controller/processor 280 includes PEI locationdetermination component 281, which may be representative of PEI locationdetermination component 198 of FIG. 1 . Notably, while depicted as anaspect of controller/processor 280, PEI location determination component281 may be implemented additionally or alternatively in various otheraspects of UE 104 in other implementations.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D depict aspects of data structures for awireless communication network, such as wireless communication network100 of FIG. 1 . In particular, FIG. 3A is a diagram 300 illustrating anexample of a first subframe within a 5G (e.g., 5G NR) frame structure,FIG. 3B is a diagram 330 illustrating an example of DL channels within a5G subframe, FIG. 3C is a diagram 350 illustrating an example of asecond subframe within a 5G frame structure, and FIG. 3D is a diagram380 illustrating an example of UL channels within a 5G subframe.

Further discussions regarding FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C,and 3D are provided later in this disclosure.

Introduction to mmWave Wireless Communications

In wireless communications, an electromagnetic spectrum is oftensubdivided into various classes, bands, channels, or other features. Thesubdivision is often provided based on wavelength and frequency, wherefrequency may also be referred to as a carrier, a subcarrier, afrequency channel, a tone, or a subband.

5G networks may utilize several frequency ranges, which in some casesare defined by a standard, such as the 3GPP standards. For example, 3GPPtechnical standard TS 38.101 currently defines Frequency Range 1 (FR1)as including 600 MHz-6 GHz, though specific uplink and downlinkallocations may fall outside of this general range. Thus, FR1 is oftenreferred to (interchangeably) as a “Sub-6 GHz” band.

Similarly, TS 38.101 currently defines Frequency Range 2 (FR2) asincluding 26-41 GHz, though again specific uplink and downlinkallocations may fall outside of this general range. FR2, is sometimesreferred to (interchangeably) as a “millimeter wave” (“mmW” or “mmWave”)band, despite being different from the extremely high frequency (EHF)band (30 GHz-300 GHz) that is identified by the InternationalTelecommunications Union (ITU) as a “millimeter wave” band becausewavelengths at these frequencies are between 1 millimeter and 10millimeters.

Communications using mmWave/near mmWave radio frequency band (e.g., 3GHz-300 GHz) may have higher path loss and a shorter range compared tolower frequency communications. As described above with respect to FIG.1 , a base station (e.g., 180) configured to communicate usingmmWave/near mmWave radio frequency bands may utilize beamforming (e.g.,182) with a UE (e.g., 104) to improve path loss and range.

Aspects Related to PEI Occasion Location Determination

Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatuses, methods,processing systems, and computer-readable mediums for determining thelocation of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoringoccasions for PEIs.

As noted above, PEIs may allow a UE to save battery power by entering anidle or inactive mode. By monitoring for PEIs, the UE may only monitorsubsequent POs for paging if an associated PEI indicates paging for theUE in those POs.

As illustrated in the timing diagram 400 of FIG. 4 , in some systems,one PEI may be used to indicate whether UEs are paged in one or multiplePOs across up to two paging frames (PF1 and PF2). As illustrated, thePEI occasion (PEI-O) location could be determined based on frame-leveland symbol-level timing offsets to a reference point. In case the PEI isassociated with multiple PFs, as in the illustrated example, theframe-level timing offset may be applied to one of the PFs (that may beconsidered a reference PF).

In the example shown in FIG. 4 , PF1 is the reference PF and thereference point is determined by applying the frame-level timing offsetfrom the start of PF1 (and the frame-level timing offset value is 1).The location of the PEI occasion may then be determined by applying thesymbol-level timing offset from the reference point to locate the firstPDCCH monitoring occasion of the PEI occasion.

As noted above, it might not always be clear which PF is to be used asthe reference PF for applying the frame-level timing offset, which maylead a UE to unnecessarily monitor too many PEI occasions or possiblycause the UE to miss a PEI and the corresponding page indicated thereby.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide various techniques fordetermining the location of PDCCH monitoring occasions for PEIs that areassociated with multiple POs in multiple PFs.

PEI location determination in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure may be understood with reference to the call flow diagram 500of FIG. 5 , that assumes a UE served by a gNB.

As illustrated, the gNB may signal the UE configuration for a PEI thatindicates, for multiple POs in multiple paging frames (PFs), whetherpaging PDCCHs are scheduled in the multiple POs.

The UE may determine a location of a PEI occasion based on a referencePF, a frame-level timing offset, and a symbol-level timing offset. FIGS.6 and 7 illustrate various examples for how the UE may identify areference PF and determine a location for the PEI occasion therefrom.The UE monitors for a PEI in a configured PEI occasion at the determinedlocation.

In some cases, the network may configure PEI-O locations based on aPDCCH search space set configuration for the PEI. In such cases, thesearch space set configuration may provide the UE with a periodicity andan offset for a first PDCCH monitoring occasion (PMO) of the PEI-O.

In such cases, the network may configure PFs for the UE in each pagingcycle (also called a discontinuous reception or DRX cycle). The UE mayevaluate each PF as a potential candidate to serve as a reference PF toapply the frame-level timing offset, in order to determine a locationfor a PEI-O.

For example, the UE may evaluate a PF by applying the frame-level timingoffset and symbol-level timing offset to (a start of) that PF and, toqualify as a valid PF reference candidate, the UE would expect theresulting start location to align with a start of a first PMO of thePEI-O. An example of this evaluation is shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

In FIG. 6A, the UE evaluates PF2 as a potential reference PF candidate.As illustrated, when the UE applies the frame-level timing offset andsymbol-level timing offset to the start of PF2, the resulting locationdoes not align with a configured PMO of the configured PEI-O. Thus, PF2is ruled out as a valid reference PF.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, however, when the UE evaluates PF1 as apotential reference PF candidate, by applying the frame-level timingoffset and symbol-level timing offset to the start of PF1, the resultinglocation does align with a configured PMO of the configured PEI-O. Thus,PF1 is identified as a valid reference PF.

In some cases, if there is no PF configured by the network thatsatisfies the timing relationship between the start of first PMO of thePEI-O and the PF determined by the frame-level timing offset andsymbol-level timing offset, the UE may take some appropriate action. Forexample, according to first option, the UE may not process its PO (a POconfigured for the UE) in the paging cycle. According to a secondoption, the UE may ignore the PEI and process the paging PDCCH in its POin the paging cycle. In other words, the UE may ignore the PEIindication or not even monitor for the PEI in the PEI-O and, instead,monitor the paging PDCCH in its PO regardless (with a potential adverseimpact on power savings). This may be considered a fallback procedure toa conventional (legacy) paging procedure.

According to the example PEI-O location determination procedure shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B, the UE and network may determine a reference PF and,therefrom, a first PMO of a configured PEI-O based on configuredframe-level and symbol-level timing offsets (which may be part of a PEIconfiguration). In such cases, the network may take measures to ensurethe first PF and the first PMO are both configured properly to satisfythe offset between them. In some cases, this may mean taking measures toensure two independent configurations of PEI PDCCH search space set andpaging frame for the UE are compatible.

As described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a UE may need to performadditional processing efforts to evaluate candidate reference PFs. Forexample, the UE may hypothetically derive the PEI-O location by eitherassuming its PF is the reference (first) PF associated with the PEI-O orthe PF prior to its PF is the first PF associated with the PEI-O. Asdescribed above, the candidate PF that complies (aligns) with PEI PDCCHsearch space set configuration is used to determine the PEI-O location.

In some cases, the network may configure a frame-level timing offsetseparately for each PF in a paging cycle. For example, thisconfiguration may be conveyed via a system information block (SIB) for aserving cell. In such cases, a UE may use the frame-level timing offsetof its own PF to determine the PEI-O location. In other words, thenetwork may ensure the separately configured frame-level timing offsetsresult in alignment with the corresponding PEI-O location for a givenUE.

FIG. 7A depicts an example timeline for PEI occasion locationdetermination based on separately configured frame-level timing offsets.As illustrated, if PF1 is the PF for the UE, it may apply the (first)frame-level timing offset configured for PF1 to determine the referencepoint. On the other hand, if PF2 is the PF for the UE, it may apply the(second) frame-level timing offset configured for PF2 to determine thereference point.

Once the reference point is determined by the frame-level timing offsetfrom the start of the PF for the UE, the UE may use the symbol-leveltiming offset from the reference point to locate the start of the firstPDCCH MO of PEI-O to identify the PEI-O location.

In some cases, the network may configure (explicitly indicate) a startoffset to determine a reference PF if more than one PF is associatedwith the PEI-O. The start offset may be indicated according to variousoptions.

According to a first option, the start offset may be defined based on aradio frame number. For example, the reference PF may be determined as:modulo(radio frame number+start offset,I _(pf))=0,where I_(pf) is the time duration of adjacent PFs associated with thesame PEI-O.According to a first option, the start offset may be defined based on anindex of the PF within the paging cycle. For example, the reference PFmay be determined as:modulo(index of PF within paging cycle+start offset,N _(pf,pEI))=0;where N_(pf, PEI) is the number of PFs associated with the same PEI-O.As an example, if N_(pf, PEI)=2 and if the start offset is 0, then thereference PF of PF(s) associated with the PEI-O is a PF that has theeven PF index. On the other hand, if the start offset is 1, then thefirst PF of PF(s) associated with the PEI-O is a PF that has the odd PFindex. FIG. 7B illustrates an option of a start offset of 0 when two PFsare associated with a PEI-O and start offset is 0.

In some cases, whether a PF has an odd or even index may determinewhether that PF is a reference PF. For example, only even numbered PFs(i.e., PFs with an even index) in the paging cycle may be used as areference PF if two PFs are associated with the same PEI-O. In thiscase, if a UE's PF has an odd index, the UE would use the PF before thisPF as the reference PF. This simple approach may provide flexibility fornetwork configuration while resulting in relatively low UE processingefforts.

Various other optimizations may help ensure a relatively simple networkconfiguration and UE implementation. For example, in some cases, if a PFis associated with one PEI, all POs within the PF may be mapped to thePEI (e.g., mapping POs of a partial PF to one PEI is not supported). Asanother example, in some cases, if more than one PF is associated withone PEI, all PFs associated with the PEI are within the same pagingcycle (e.g., PFs mapping to one PEI from different paging cycles may notbe supported).

Various examples described above assumed a PEI that mapped to POs in twoPFs (PF1 and PF2). Those skilled in the art will recognize, however,that the PEI-O location determination techniques described herein may beextended to cases where a PEI maps to more than two PFs.

Example Methods

FIG. 8 shows an example of a method 800 for wireless communicationaccording to aspects of the present disclosure. In some aspects, a userequipment, such as UE 104 of FIGS. 1 and 2 , or processing system 1005of FIG. 10 , may perform the method 800.

Method 800 begins at step 805 with receiving, from a network entity, aconfiguration of a PEI that indicates, for multiple POs in multiple PFs,whether paging PDCCHs are scheduled in the multiple POs. In some cases,the operations of this step refer to, or may be performed by, PEIconfiguration circuitry as described with reference to FIG. 10 .

Method 800 then proceeds to step 810 with identifying a reference PFfrom one of the multiple PFs. In some cases, the operations of this steprefer to, or may be performed by, reference PF circuitry as describedwith reference to FIG. 10 .

Method 800 then proceeds to step 815 with monitoring for the PEI in alocation of a PEI occasion determined based on the reference PF and atleast one timing offset. In some cases, the operations of this steprefer to, or may be performed by, PEI monitoring circuitry as describedwith reference to FIG. 10 .

In some aspects, the at least one timing offset comprises a frame-leveltiming offset and a symbol-level timing offset. In some aspects, the UEdetermines the location of the PEI occasion by determining a referencepoint that is the frame-level timing offset before a start of thereference PF and determining a start of the PEI occasion that is thesymbol-level timing offset before the reference point. In some aspects,identifying the reference PF comprises identifying one of the multiplePFs whose start is offset, from a configured PMO of the PEI occasion, bythe frame-level and symbol-level timing offset.

In some aspects, identifying one of the multiple PFs whose start isoffset, from a configured PMO of the PEI occasion, by the frame-leveland symbol-level timing offset comprises evaluating candidate PEIoccasion locations derived for the multiple PFs, using the frame-leveland symbol-level timing offset, to identify the reference PF.

In some aspects, method 800 further includes, if the UE is unable toidentify a PF whose start is offset, from the configured PMO of the PEIoccasion, by the frame-level and symbol-level timing offset at least oneof: skipping a PO and not process a paging PDCCH in a paging cycle, orignoring the PEI and process a paging PDCCH in the PO in the pagingcycle.

In some aspects, a periodicity and offset for the PMO of the PEIoccasion are provided by the network entity as part of a search spaceset configuration. In some aspects, the periodicity and offset providedby the network are for a first PMO of the PEI occasion.

In some aspects, the configuration configures a frame-level timingoffset separately for each PF in a paging cycle. In some aspects,identifying the reference PF comprises identifying a PF for a PO of theUE as the reference PF. In some aspects, method 800 further includesusing the frame-level timing offset configured for the PF for the PO ofthe UE to determine the location of the reference point. In someaspects, method 800 further includes using the symbol-level timingoffset from the reference point to determine a start of the PEIoccasion.

In some aspects, identifying the reference PF is based on a start offsetconfigured by the network entity. In some aspects, the start offset isdefined based on a radio frame number. In some aspects, the reference PFis identified based on a modulo function involving the radio framenumber, the start offset, and a time duration of the multiple PFs. Insome aspects, the start offset is defined based on an index of a PFwithin a paging cycle. In some aspects, the reference PF is identifiedbased on a modulo function involving the index of the PF within thepaging cycle, the start offset, and a number of the multiple PFs.

In some aspects, identifying the reference PF comprises identifying oneof the multiple PFs that has an odd index as the reference PF oridentifying one of the multiple PFs that has an even index as thereference PF. In some aspects, all POs within the multiple PFs aremapped to the PEI. In some aspects, the multiple PFs are within a samepaging cycle.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a method 900 for wireless communicationaccording to aspects of the present disclosure. In some aspects, a basestation, such as BS 102 of FIGS. 1 and 2 , or processing system 1105 ofFIG. 11 , may perform the method 900.

Method 900 begins at step 905 with transmitting, to a UE, aconfiguration of a PEI that indicates, for multiple POs in multiple PFs,whether paging PDCCHs are scheduled in the multiple POs. In some cases,the operations of this step refer to, or may be performed by, PEIconfiguration circuitry as described with reference to FIG. 11 .

Method 900 then proceeds to step 910 with identifying a reference PFfrom one of the multiple PFs. In some cases, the operations of this steprefer to, or may be performed by, reference PF circuitry as describedwith reference to FIG. 11 .

Method 900 then proceeds to step 915 with transmitting a PEI in alocation of a PEI occasion determined based on the reference PF and atleast one timing offset. In some cases, the operations of this steprefer to, or may be performed by, PEI transmission circuitry asdescribed with reference to FIG. 11 .

In some aspects, the at least one timing offset comprises a frame-leveltiming offset and a symbol-level timing offset. In some aspects, thenetwork entity determines the location of the PEI occasion bydetermining a reference point that is the frame-level timing offsetbefore a start of the reference PF and determining a start of the PEIoccasion that is the symbol-level timing offset before the referencepoint.

In some aspects, identifying the reference PF comprises identifying oneof the multiple PFs whose start is offset, from a configured PMO of thePEI occasion, by the frame-level and symbol-level timing offset. In someaspects, a periodicity and offset for the PMO of the PEI occasion areprovided by the network entity as part of a search space setconfiguration. In some aspects, the periodicity and offset provided bythe network are for a first PMO of the PEI occasion.

In some aspects, the configuration configures a frame-level timingoffset separately for each PF in a paging cycle. In some aspects,identifying the reference PF comprises identifying a PF for a PO of theUE as the reference PF. In some aspects, method 900 further includesusing the frame-level timing offset configured for the PF for the PO ofthe UE to determine the location of the reference point. In someaspects, method 900 further includes using the symbol-level timingoffset from the reference point to determine a start of the PEIoccasion.

In some aspects, identifying the reference PF is based on a start offsetconfigured by the network entity. In some aspects, the start offset isdefined based on a radio frame number. In some aspects, the reference PFis identified based on a modulo function involving the radio framenumber, the start offset, and a time duration of the multiple PFs.

In some aspects, the start offset is defined based on an index of a PFwithin a paging cycle. In some aspects, the reference PF is identifiedbased on a modulo function involving the index of the PF within thepaging cycle, the start offset, and a number of the multiple PFs.

In some aspects, identifying the reference PF comprises identifying oneof the multiple PFs that has an odd index as the reference PF oridentifying one of the multiple PFs that has an even index as thereference PF. In some aspects, all POs within the multiple PFs aremapped to the PEI. In some aspects, the multiple PFs are within a samepaging cycle.

Example Wireless Communication Device

FIG. 10 depicts an example communications device 1000 that includesvarious components operable, configured, or adapted to performoperations for the techniques disclosed herein, such as the operationsdepicted and described with respect to FIG. 8 . In some examples,communication device 1000 may be a UE 104 as described, for example withrespect to FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Communications device 1000 includes a processing system 1005 coupled tothe transceiver 1055 (e.g., a transmitter and/or a receiver). Thetransceiver 1055 is configured to transmit (or send) and receive signalsfor the communications device 1000 via the antenna 1060, such as thevarious signals as described herein. The transceiver 1055 maycommunicate bi-directionally, via the antennas 1060, wired links, orwireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver 1055may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicatebi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1055may also include or be connected to a modem to modulate the packets andprovide the modulated packets to for transmission, and to demodulatereceived packets. In some examples, the transceiver 1055 may be tuned tooperate at specified frequencies. For example, a modem can configure thetransceiver 1055 to operate at a specified frequency and power levelbased on the communication protocol used by the modem.

Processing system 1005 may be configured to perform processing functionsfor communications device 1000, including processing signals receivedand/or to be transmitted by communications device 1000. Processingsystem 1005 includes one or more processors 1010 coupled to acomputer-readable medium/memory 1030 via a bus 1050.

In some examples, one or more processors 1010 may include one or moreintelligent hardware devices, (e.g., a general-purpose processingcomponent, a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit(CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device, a discrete gate ortransistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or anycombination thereof). In some cases, the one or more processors 1010 areconfigured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In othercases, a memory controller is integrated into the one or more processors1010. In some cases, the one or more processors 1010 are configured toexecute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory to performvarious functions. In some aspects, one or more processors 1010 includespecial purpose components for modem processing, baseband processing,digital signal processing, or transmission processing.

In certain aspects, computer-readable medium/memory 1030 is configuredto store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that whenexecuted by the one or more processors 1010, cause the one or moreprocessors 1010 to perform the operations illustrated in FIG. 8 , orother operations for performing the various techniques discussed herein.

In one aspect, computer-readable medium/memory 1030 includes PEIconfiguration code 1035, reference PF code 1040, and PEI monitoring code1045.

Examples of a computer-readable medium/memory 1030 include random accessmemory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), solid state memory, a hard drive,a hard disk drive, etc. In some examples, computer-readablemedium/memory 1030 is used to store computer-readable,computer-executable software including instructions that, when executed,cause a processor to perform various functions described herein. In somecases, the memory contains, among other things, a basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) which controls basic hardware or software operation suchas the interaction with peripheral components or devices. In some cases,a memory controller operates memory cells. For example, the memorycontroller can include a row decoder, column decoder, or both. In somecases, memory cells within a memory store information in the form of alogical state.

Various components of communications device 1000 may provide means forperforming the methods described herein, including with respect to FIG.8 .

In some examples, means for transmitting or sending (or means foroutputting for transmission) may include transceivers 254 and/orantenna(s) 252 of the UE 104 illustrated in FIG. 2 and/or thetransceiver 1055 and the antenna 1060 of the communication device inFIG. 10 .

In some examples, means for receiving (or means for obtaining) mayinclude transceivers 254 and/or antenna(s) 252 of the UE 104 illustratedin FIG. 2 and/or the transceiver 1055 and the antenna 1060 of thecommunication device in FIG. 10 .

In some examples, means for performing various operations describedherein may include various processing system 1005 components, such as:the one or more processors 1010 in FIG. 10 , or aspects of the UE 104depicted in FIG. 2 , including receive processor 258, transmit processor264, TX MIMO processor 266, and/or controller/processor 280 (includingPEI location determination component 281).

In one aspect, one or more processors 1010 includes PEI configurationcircuitry 1015, reference PF circuitry 1020, and PEI monitoringcircuitry 1025.

According to some aspects, PEI configuration circuitry 1015 receives,from a network entity, a configuration of a PEI that indicates, formultiple POs in multiple PFs, whether paging PDCCHs are scheduled in themultiple POs. In some aspects, all POs within the multiple PFs aremapped to the PEI. In some aspects, the multiple PFs are within a samepaging cycle.

According to some aspects, reference PF circuitry 1020 identifies areference PF from one of the multiple PFs.

According to some aspects, PEI monitoring circuitry 1025 monitors forthe PEI in a location of a PEI occasion determined based on thereference PF and at least one timing offset. In some aspects, the atleast one timing offset comprises a frame-level timing offset and asymbol-level timing offset. In some aspects, the UE determines thelocation of the PEI occasion by determining a reference point that isthe frame-level timing offset before a start of the reference PF anddetermining a start of the PEI occasion that is the symbol-level timingoffset before the reference point.

In some aspects, identifying the reference PF comprises identifying oneof the multiple PFs whose start is offset, from a configured PMO of thePEI occasion, by the frame-level and symbol-level timing offset. In someaspects, identifying one of the multiple PFs whose start is offset, froma configured PMO of the PEI occasion, by the frame-level andsymbol-level timing offset comprises evaluating candidate PEI occasionlocations derived for the multiple PFs, using the frame-level andsymbol-level timing offset, to identify the reference PF. In someexamples (e.g., if the UE is unable to identify a PF whose start isoffset, from the configured PMO of the PEI occasion, by the frame-leveland symbol-level timing offset), PEI configuration circuitry 1015 skipsa PO and not process a paging PDCCH in a paging cycle, ignores the PEIand process a paging PDCCH in the PO in the paging cycle, or both.

In some aspects, a periodicity and offset for the PMO of the PEIoccasion are provided by the network entity as part of a search spaceset configuration. In some aspects, the periodicity and offset providedby the network are for a first PMO of the PEI occasion. In some aspects,the configuration configures a frame-level timing offset separately foreach PF in a paging cycle. In some aspects, identifying the reference PFcomprises identifying a PF for a PO of the UE as the reference PF. Insome examples, PEI configuration circuitry 1015 uses the frame-leveltiming offset configured for the PF for the PO of the UE to determinethe location of the reference point. In some examples, PEI configurationcircuitry 1015 uses the symbol-level timing offset from the referencepoint to determine a start of the PEI occasion.

In some aspects, reference PF circuitry 1020 identifies the reference PFbased on a start offset configured by the network entity. In someaspects, the start offset is defined based on a radio frame number. Insome aspects, the reference PF is identified based on a modulo functioninvolving the radio frame number, the start offset, and a time durationof the multiple PFs. In some aspects, the start offset is defined basedon an index of a PF within a paging cycle. In some aspects, thereference PF is identified based on a modulo function involving theindex of the PF within the paging cycle, the start offset, and a numberof the multiple PFs. In some aspects, identifying the reference PFcomprises identifying one of the multiple PFs that has an odd index asthe reference PF or identifying one of the multiple PFs that has an evenindex as the reference PF.

Notably, FIG. 10 is just one example, and many other examples andconfigurations of communication device are possible.

FIG. 11 depicts an example communications device 1100 that includesvarious components operable, configured, or adapted to performoperations for the techniques disclosed herein, such as the operationsdepicted and described with respect to FIG. 9 . In some examples,communication device may be a BS 102 as described, for example withrespect to FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Communications device 1100 includes a processing system 1105 coupled tothe transceiver 1155 (e.g., a transmitter and/or a receiver). Thetransceiver 1155 is configured to transmit (or send) and receive signalsfor the communications device 1100 via the antenna 1160, such as thevarious signals as described herein. The transceiver 1155 maycommunicate bi-directionally, via the antennas 1160, wired links, orwireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver 1155may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicatebi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1155may also include or be connected to a modem to modulate the packets andprovide the modulated packets to for transmission, and to demodulatereceived packets. In some examples, the transceiver 1155 may be tuned tooperate at specified frequencies. For example, a modem can configure thetransceiver 1155 to operate at a specified frequency and power levelbased on the communication protocol used by the modem.

Processing system 1105 may be configured to perform processing functionsfor communications device 1100, including processing signals receivedand/or to be transmitted by communications device 1100. Processingsystem 1105 includes one or more processors 1110 coupled to acomputer-readable medium/memory 1130 via a bus 1150.

In some examples, one or more processors 1110 may include one or moreintelligent hardware devices, (e.g., a general-purpose processingcomponent, a DSP, a CPU, a GPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, a FPGA, aprogrammable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logiccomponent, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof).In some cases, the one or more processors 1110 are configured to operatea memory array using a memory controller. In other cases, a memorycontroller is integrated into the one or more processors 1110. In somecases, the one or more processors 1110 are configured to executecomputer-readable instructions stored in a memory to perform variousfunctions. In some aspects, one or more processors 1110 include specialpurpose components for modem processing, baseband processing, digitalsignal processing, or transmission processing.

In certain aspects, computer-readable medium/memory 1130 is configuredto store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that whenexecuted by the one or more processors 1110, cause the one or moreprocessors 1110 to perform the operations illustrated in FIG. 9 , orother operations for performing the various techniques discussed herein.

In one aspect, computer-readable medium/memory 1130 includes PEIconfiguration code 1135, reference PF code 1140, and PEI transmissioncode 1145.

Examples of a computer-readable medium/memory 1130 include RAM, ROM,solid state memory, a hard drive, a hard disk drive, etc. In someexamples, computer-readable medium/memory 1130 is used to storecomputer-readable, computer-executable software including instructionsthat, when executed, cause a processor to perform various functionsdescribed herein. In some cases, the memory contains, among otherthings, a BIOS which controls basic hardware or software operation suchas the interaction with peripheral components or devices. In some cases,a memory controller operates memory cells. For example, the memorycontroller can include a row decoder, column decoder, or both. In somecases, memory cells within a memory store information in the form of alogical state.

Various components of communications device 1100 may provide means forperforming the methods described herein, including with respect to FIG.9 .

In some examples, means for transmitting or sending (or means foroutputting for transmission) may include transceivers 232 and/orantenna(s) 234 of the BS 102 illustrated in FIG. 2 and/or thetransceiver 1155 and the antenna 1160 of the communication device inFIG. 11 .

In some examples, means for receiving (or means for obtaining) mayinclude transceivers 232 and/or antenna(s) 234 of the BS 102 illustratedin FIG. 2 and/or the transceiver 1155 and the antenna 1160 of thecommunication device in FIG. 11 .

In some examples, means for performing various operations describedherein may include various processing system 1105 components, such as:the one or more processors 1110 in FIG. 11 , or aspects of the BS 102depicted in FIG. 2 , including receive processor 238, transmit processor220, TX MIMO processor 230, and/or controller/processor 240 (includingPEI location determination component 241).

In one aspect, one or more processors 1110 includes PEI configurationcircuitry 1115, reference PF circuitry 1120, and PEI transmissioncircuitry 1125.

According to some aspects, PEI configuration circuitry 1115 transmits,to a UE, a configuration of a PEI that indicates, for multiple POs inmultiple PFs, whether paging PDCCHs are scheduled in the multiple POs.In some aspects, all POs within the multiple PFs are mapped to the PEI.In some aspects, the multiple PFs are within a same paging cycle.

According to some aspects, reference PF circuitry 1120 identifies areference PF from one of the multiple PFs.

According to some aspects, PEI transmission circuitry 1125 transmits aPEI in a location of a PEI occasion determined based on the reference PFand at least one timing offset. In some aspects, the at least one timingoffset comprises a frame-level timing offset and a symbol-level timingoffset. In some aspects, the network entity determines the location ofthe PEI occasion by determining a reference point that is theframe-level timing offset before a start of the reference PF anddetermining a start of the PEI occasion that is the symbol-level timingoffset before the reference point. In some aspects, identifying thereference PF comprises identifying one of the multiple PFs whose startis offset, from a configured PMO of the PEI occasion, by the frame-leveland symbol-level timing offset. In some aspects, a periodicity andoffset for the PMO of the PEI occasion are provided by the networkentity as part of a search space set configuration. In some aspects, theperiodicity and offset provided by the network are for a first PMO ofthe PEI occasion. In some aspects, the configuration configures aframe-level timing offset separately for each PF in a paging cycle. Insome aspects, identifying the reference PF comprises identifying a PFfor a PO of the UE as the reference PF. In some examples, PEIconfiguration circuitry 1115 uses the frame-level timing offsetconfigured for the PF for the PO of the UE to determine the location ofthe reference point. In some examples, PEI configuration circuitry 1115uses the symbol-level timing offset from the reference point todetermine a start of the PEI occasion.

In some aspects, reference PF circuitry 1120 identifies the reference PFbased on a start offset configured by the network entity. In someaspects, the start offset is defined based on a radio frame number. Insome aspects, the reference PF is identified based on a modulo functioninvolving the radio frame number, the start offset, and a time durationof the multiple PFs. In some aspects, the start offset is defined basedon an index of a PF within a paging cycle. In some aspects, thereference PF is identified based on a modulo function involving theindex of the PF within the paging cycle, the start offset, and a numberof the multiple PFs. In some aspects, identifying the reference PFcomprises identifying one of the multiple PFs that has an odd index asthe reference PF or identifying one of the multiple PFs that has an evenindex as the reference PF.

Notably, FIG. 11 is just one example, and many other examples andconfigurations of communication device are possible.

Example Clauses

Implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses:

Clause 1: A method of wireless communication by a user equipment, themethod comprising: receiving, from a network entity, a configuration ofa PEI that indicates, for multiple POs in multiple PFs, whether pagingPDCCHs are scheduled in the multiple POs; identifying a reference PFfrom one of the multiple PFs; and monitoring for the PEI in a locationof a PEI occasion determined based on the reference PF and at least onetiming offset.

Clause 2: The method of Clause 1, wherein the at least one timing offsetcomprises a frame-level timing offset and a symbol-level timing offset;and the UE determines the location of the PEI occasion by determining areference point that is the frame-level timing offset before a start ofthe reference PF and determining a start of the PEI occasion that is thesymbol-level timing offset before the reference point.

Clause 3: The method of Clause 2, wherein identifying the reference PFcomprises identifying one of the multiple PFs whose start is offset,from a configured PMO of the PEI occasion, by the frame-level andsymbol-level timing offset.

Clause 4: The method of Clause 3, wherein identifying one of themultiple PFs whose start is offset, from a configured PMO of the PEIoccasion, by the frame-level and symbol-level timing offset comprises:evaluating candidate PEI occasion locations derived for the multiplePFs, using the frame-level timing offset and symbol-level timing offset,to identify the reference PF.

Clause 5: The method of Clause 4, further comprising, if the UE isunable to identify a PF whose start is offset, from the configured PMOof the PEI occasion, by the frame-level timing offset and symbol-leveltiming offset at least one of: skipping a PO and not process a pagingPDCCH in a paging cycle; or ignoring the PEI and process a paging PDCCHin the PO in the paging cycle.

Clause 6: The method of Clause 3, wherein a periodicity and offset forthe PMO of the PEI occasion are provided by the network entity as partof a search space set configuration.

Clause 7: The method of Clause 6, wherein the periodicity and offsetprovided by the network are for a first PMO of the PEI occasion.

Clause 8: The method of Clause 2, wherein the configuration configures aframe-level timing offset separately for each PF in a paging cycle; andidentifying the reference PF comprises identifying a PF for a PO of theUE as the reference PF.

Clause 9: The method of Clause 8, further comprising: using theframe-level timing offset configured for the PF for the PO of the UE todetermine the location of the reference point; and using thesymbol-level timing offset from the reference point to determine a startof the PEI occasion.

Clause 10: The method of any one of Clauses 1-9, wherein identifying thereference PF is based on a start offset configured by the networkentity.

Clause 11: The method of Clause 10, wherein the start offset is definedbased on a radio frame number; and the reference PF is identified basedon a modulo function involving the radio frame number, the start offset,and a time duration of the multiple PFs.

Clause 12: The method of Clause 10, wherein the start offset is definedbased on an index of a PF within a paging cycle; and the reference PF isidentified based on a modulo function involving the index of the PFwithin the paging cycle, the start offset, and a number of the multiplePFs.

Clause 13: The method of any one of Clauses 1-12, wherein identifyingthe reference PF comprises: identifying one of the multiple PFs that hasan odd index as the reference PF; or identifying one of the multiple PFsthat has an even index as the reference PF.

Clause 14: The method of any one of Clauses 1-13, wherein all POs withinthe multiple PFs are mapped to the PEI.

Clause 15: The method of any one of Clauses 1-14, wherein the multiplePFs are within a same paging cycle.

Clause 16: A method of wireless communication by a network entity, themethod comprising: transmitting, to a UE, a configuration of a PEI thatindicates, for multiple POs in multiple PFs, whether paging PDCCHs arescheduled in the multiple POs; identifying a reference PF from one ofthe multiple PFs; and transmitting a PEI in a location of a PEI occasiondetermined based on the reference PF and at least one timing offset.

Clause 17: The method of Clause 16, wherein the at least one timingoffset comprises a frame-level timing offset and a symbol-level timingoffset; and the network entity determines the location of the PEIoccasion by determining a reference point that is the frame-level timingoffset before a start of the reference PF and determining a start of thePEI occasion that is the symbol-level timing offset before the referencepoint.

Clause 18: The method of Clause 17, wherein identifying the reference PFcomprises identifying one of the multiple PFs whose start is offset,from a configured PMO of the PEI occasion, by the frame-level timingoffset and symbol-level timing offset.

Clause 19: The method of Clause 18, wherein a periodicity and offset forthe PMO of the PEI occasion are provided by the network entity as partof a search space set configuration.

Clause 20: The method of Clause 19, wherein the periodicity and offsetprovided by the network are for a first PMO of the PEI occasion.

Clause 21: The method of Clause 17, wherein the configuration configuresa frame-level timing offset separately for each PF in a paging cycle;and identifying the reference PF comprises identifying a PF for a PO ofthe UE as the reference PF.

Clause 22: The method of Clause 21, further comprising: using theframe-level timing offset configured for the PF for the PO of the UE todetermine the location of the reference point; and using thesymbol-level timing offset from the reference point to determine a startof the PEI occasion.

Clause 23: The method of any one of Clauses 16-22, wherein identifyingthe reference PF is based on a start offset configured by the networkentity.

Clause 24: The method of Clause 23, wherein the start offset is definedbased on a radio frame number; and the reference PF is identified basedon a modulo function involving the radio frame number, the start offset,and a time duration of the multiple PFs.

Clause 25: The method of Clause 24, wherein the start offset is definedbased on an index of a PF within a paging cycle; and the reference PF isidentified based on a modulo function involving the index of the PFwithin the paging cycle, the start offset, and a number of the multiplePFs.

Clause 26: The method of any one of Clauses 16-25, wherein identifyingthe reference PF comprises: identifying one of the multiple PFs that hasan odd index as the reference PF; or identifying one of the multiple PFsthat has an even index as the reference PF.

Clause 27: The method of any one of Clauses 16-26, wherein all POswithin the multiple PFs are mapped to the PEI.

Clause 28: The method of any one of Clauses 16-27, wherein the multiplePFs are within a same paging cycle.

Clause 29: A processing system, comprising: a memory comprisingcomputer-executable instructions; one or more processors configured toexecute the computer-executable instructions and cause the processingsystem to perform a method in accordance with any one of Clauses 1-28.

Clause 30: A processing system, comprising means for performing a methodin accordance with any one of Clauses 1-28.

Clause 31: A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprisingcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or moreprocessors of a processing system, cause the processing system toperform a method in accordance with any one of Clauses 1-28.

Clause 32: A computer program product embodied on a computer-readablestorage medium comprising code for performing a method in accordancewith any one of Clauses 1-28.

Additional Wireless Communication Network Considerations

The techniques and methods described herein may be used for variouswireless communications networks (or wireless wide area network (WWAN))and radio access technologies (RATs). While aspects may be describedherein using terminology commonly associated with 3G, 4G, and/or 5G(e.g., 5G new radio (NR)) wireless technologies, aspects of the presentdisclosure may likewise be applicable to other communication systems andstandards not explicitly mentioned herein.

5G wireless communication networks may support various advanced wirelesscommunication services, such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB),millimeter wave (mmWave), machine type communications (MTC), and/ormission critical targeting ultra-reliable, low-latency communications(URLLC). These services, and others, may include latency and reliabilityrequirements.

Returning to FIG. 1 , various aspects of the present disclosure may beperformed within the example wireless communication network 100.

In 3GPP, the term “cell” can refer to a coverage area of a NodeB and/ora narrowband subsystem serving this coverage area, depending on thecontext in which the term is used. In NR systems, the term “cell” andBS, next generation NodeB (gNB or gNodeB), access point (AP),distributed unit (DU), carrier, or transmission reception point may beused interchangeably. A BS may provide communication coverage for amacro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, and/or other types of cells.

A macro cell may generally cover a relatively large geographic area(e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted accessby UEs with service subscription. A pico cell may cover a relativelysmall geographic area (e.g., a sports stadium) and may allowunrestricted access by UEs with service subscription. A femto cell maycover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a home) and may allowrestricted access by UEs having an association with the femto cell(e.g., UEs in a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) and UEs for users in thehome). A BS for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro BS. A BS fora pico cell may be referred to as a pico BS. A BS for a femto cell maybe referred to as a femto BS, home BS, or a home NodeB.

BSs 102 configured for 4G LTE (collectively referred to as EvolvedUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial RadioAccess Network (E-UTRAN)) may interface with the EPC 160 through firstbackhaul links 132 (e.g., an 51 interface). BSs 102 configured for 5G(e.g., 5G NR or Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN)) may interface with 5GC 190through second backhaul links 184. BSs 102 may communicate directly orindirectly (e.g., through the EPC 160 or 5GC 190) with each other overthird backhaul links 134 (e.g., X2 interface). Third backhaul links 134may generally be wired or wireless.

Small cell 102′ may operate in a licensed and/or an unlicensed frequencyspectrum. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the smallcell 102′ may employ NR and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed frequencyspectrum as used by the Wi-Fi AP 150. Small cell 102′, employing NR inan unlicensed frequency spectrum, may boost coverage to and/or increasecapacity of the access network.

Some base stations, such as BS 180 (e.g., gNB) may operate in atraditional sub-6 GHz spectrum, in millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies,and/or near mmWave frequencies in communication with the UE 104. Whenthe BS 180 operates in mmWave or near mmWave frequencies, the BS 180 maybe referred to as an mmWave base station.

The communication links 120 between BSs 102 and, for example, UEs 104,may be through one or more carriers. For example, BSs 102 and UEs 104may use spectrum up to YMHz (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 400, and otherMHz) bandwidth per carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to atotal of Yx MHz (x component carriers) used for transmission in eachdirection. The carriers may or may not be adjacent to each other.Allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL(e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for DL than for UL). Thecomponent carriers may include a primary component carrier and one ormore secondary component carriers. A primary component carrier may bereferred to as a primary cell (PCell) and a secondary component carriermay be referred to as a secondary cell (SCell).

Wireless communication network 100 further includes a Wi-Fi access point(AP) 150 in communication with Wi-Fi stations (STAs) 152 viacommunication links 154 in, for example, a 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHzunlicensed frequency spectrum. When communicating in an unlicensedfrequency spectrum, the STAs 152/AP 150 may perform a clear channelassessment (CCA) prior to communicating in order to determine whetherthe channel is available.

Certain UEs 104 may communicate with each other using device-to-device(D2D) communication link 158. The D2D communication link 158 may use theDL/UL WWAN spectrum. The D2D communication link 158 may use one or moresidelink channels, such as a physical sidelink broadcast channel(PSBCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a PSSCH, and aphysical sidelink control channel (PSCCH). D2D communication may bethrough a variety of wireless D2D communications systems, such as forexample, FlashLinQ, WiMedia, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi based on the IEEE802.11 standard, 4G (e.g., LTE), or 5G (e.g., NR), to name a fewoptions.

EPC 160 may include a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 162, other MMES164, a Serving Gateway 166, a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service(MBMS) Gateway 168, a Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BM-SC) 170,and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway 172. MME 162 may be incommunication with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 174. MME 162 is thecontrol node that processes the signaling between the UEs 104 and theEPC 160. Generally, MME 162 provides bearer and connection management.

Generally, user Internet protocol (IP) packets are transferred throughServing Gateway 166, which itself is connected to PDN Gateway 172. PDNGateway 172 provides UE IP address allocation as well as otherfunctions. PDN Gateway 172 and the BM-SC 170 are connected to the IPServices 176, which may include, for example, the Internet, an intranet,an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a PS Streaming Service, and/or otherIP services.

BM-SC 170 may provide functions for MBMS user service provisioning anddelivery. BM-SC 170 may serve as an entry point for content providerMBMS transmission, may be used to authorize and initiate MBMS BearerServices within a public land mobile network (PLMN), and may be used toschedule MBMS transmissions. MBMS Gateway 168 may be used to distributeMBMS traffic to the BSs 102 belonging to a Multicast Broadcast SingleFrequency Network (MBSFN) area broadcasting a particular service, andmay be responsible for session management (start/stop) and forcollecting eMBMS related charging information.

5GC 190 may include an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)192, other AMFs 193, a Session Management Function (SMF) 194, and a UserPlane Function (UPF) 195. AMF 192 may be in communication with a UnifiedData Management (UDM) 196.

AMF 192 is generally the control node that processes the signalingbetween UEs 104 and 5GC 190. Generally, AMF 192 provides QoS flow andsession management.

All user Internet protocol (IP) packets are transferred through UPF 195,which is connected to the IP Services 197, and which provides UE IPaddress allocation as well as other functions for 5GC 190. IP Services197 may include, for example, the Internet, an intranet, an IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS), a PS Streaming Service, and/or other IPservices.

Returning to FIG. 2 , various example components of BS 102 and UE 104(e.g., the wireless communication network 100 of FIG. 1 ) are depicted,which may be used to implement aspects of the present disclosure.

At BS 102, a transmit processor 220 may receive data from a data source212 and control information from a controller/processor 240. The controlinformation may be for the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), physicalcontrol format indicator channel (PCFICH), physical hybrid ARQ indicatorchannel (PHICH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), group commonPDCCH (GC PDCCH), and others. The data may be for the physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH), in some examples.

A medium access control (MAC)-control element (MAC-CE) is a MAC layercommunication structure that may be used for control command exchangebetween wireless nodes. The MAC-CE may be carried in a shared channelsuch as a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), a physical uplinkshared channel (PUSCH), or a PSSCH.

Transmit processor 220 may process (e.g., encode and symbol map) thedata and control information to obtain data symbols and control symbols,respectively. Transmit processor 220 may also generate referencesymbols, such as for the primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondarysynchronization signal (SSS), PBCH DMRS, and channel state informationreference signal (CSI-RS).

Transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor 230 mayperform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on the data symbols, thecontrol symbols, and/or the reference symbols, if applicable, and mayprovide output symbol streams to the modulators (MODs) in transceivers232 a-232 t. Each modulator in transceivers 232 a-232 t may process arespective output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM) to obtain an outputsample stream. Each modulator may further process (e.g., convert toanalog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream toobtain a downlink signal. Downlink signals from the modulators intransceivers 232 a-232 t may be transmitted via the antennas 234 a-234t, respectively.

At UE 104, antennas 252 a-252 r may receive the downlink signals fromthe BS 102 and may provide received signals to the demodulators (DEMODs)in transceivers 254 a-254 r, respectively. Each demodulator intransceivers 254 a-254 r may condition (e.g., filter, amplify,downconvert, and digitize) a respective received signal to obtain inputsamples. Each demodulator may further process the input samples (e.g.,for OFDM) to obtain received symbols.

MIMO detector 256 may obtain received symbols from all the demodulatorsin transceivers 254 a-254 r, perform MIMO detection on the receivedsymbols if applicable, and provide detected symbols. Receive processor258 may process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, and decode) thedetected symbols, provide decoded data for the UE 104 to a data sink260, and provide decoded control information to a controller/processor280.

On the uplink, at UE 104, transmit processor 264 may receive and processdata (e.g., for the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) from a datasource 262 and control information (e.g., for the physical uplinkcontrol channel (PUCCH) from the controller/processor 280. Transmitprocessor 264 may also generate reference symbols for a reference signal(e.g., for the sounding reference signal (SRS)). The symbols from thetransmit processor 264 may be precoded by a TX MIMO processor 266 ifapplicable, further processed by the modulators in transceivers 254a-254 r (e.g., for SC-FDM), and transmitted to BS 102.

At BS 102, the uplink signals from UE 104 may be received by antennas234 a-t, processed by the demodulators in transceivers 232 a-232 t,detected by a MIMO detector 236 if applicable, and further processed bya receive processor 238 to obtain decoded data and control informationsent by UE 104. Receive processor 238 may provide the decoded data to adata sink 239 and the decoded control information to thecontroller/processor 240.

Memories 242 and 282 may store data and program codes for BS 102 and UE104, respectively.

Scheduler 244 may schedule UEs for data transmission on the downlinkand/or uplink.

5G may utilize orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with acyclic prefix (CP) on the uplink and downlink. 5G may also supporthalf-duplex operation using time division duplexing (TDD). OFDM andsingle-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) partition thesystem bandwidth into multiple orthogonal subcarriers, which are alsocommonly referred to as tones and bins. Each subcarrier may be modulatedwith data. Modulation symbols may be sent in the frequency domain withOFDM and in the time domain with SC-FDM. The spacing between adjacentsubcarriers may be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers may bedependent on the system bandwidth. The minimum resource allocation,called a RB, may be 12 consecutive subcarriers in some examples. Thesystem bandwidth may also be partitioned into subbands. For example, asubband may cover multiple RBs. NR may support a base subcarrier spacing(SCS) of 15 KHz and other SCS may be defined with respect to the baseSCS (e.g., 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, 240 kHz, and others).

As above, FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D depict various example aspects ofdata structures for a wireless communication network, such as wirelesscommunication network 100 of FIG. 1 .

In various aspects, the 5G frame structure may be frequency divisionduplex (FDD), in which for a particular set of subcarriers (carriersystem bandwidth), subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicatedfor either DL or UL. 5G frame structures may also be time divisionduplex (TDD), in which for a particular set of subcarriers (carriersystem bandwidth), subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicatedfor both DL and UL. In the examples provided by FIGS. 3A and 3C, the 5Gframe structure is assumed to be TDD, with subframe 4 being configuredwith slot format 28 (with mostly DL), where D is DL, U is UL, and X isflexible for use between DL/UL, and subframe 3 being configured withslot format 34 (with mostly UL). While subframes 3, 4 are shown withslot formats 34, 28, respectively, any particular subframe may beconfigured with any of the various available slot formats 0-61. Slotformats 0, 1 are all DL, UL, respectively. Other slot formats 2-61include a mix of DL, UL, and flexible symbols. UEs are configured withthe slot format (dynamically through DL control information (DCI), orsemi-statically/statically through RRC signaling) through a receivedslot format indicator (SFI). Note that the description below appliesalso to a 5G frame structure that is TDD.

Other wireless communication technologies may have a different framestructure and/or different channels. A frame (10 ms) may be divided into10 equally sized subframes (1 ms). Each subframe may include one or moretime slots. Subframes may also include mini-slots, which may include 7,4, or 2 symbols. In some examples, each slot may include 7 or 14symbols, depending on the slot configuration.

For example, for slot configuration 0, each slot may include 14 symbols,and for slot configuration 1, each slot may include 7 symbols. Thesymbols on DL may be cyclic prefix (CP) OFDM (CP-OFDM) symbols. Thesymbols on UL may be CP-OFDM symbols (for high throughput scenarios) ordiscrete Fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbols (alsoreferred to as single carrier frequency-division multiple access(SC-FDMA) symbols) (for power limited scenarios; limited to a singlestream transmission).

The number of slots within a subframe is based on the slot configurationand the numerology. For slot configuration 0, different numerologies 0to 5 allow for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 slots, respectively, per subframe.For slot configuration 1, different numerologies 0 to 2 allow for 2, 4,and 8 slots, respectively, per subframe. Accordingly, for slotconfiguration 0 and numerology μ, there are 14 symbols/slot and 2μslots/subframe. The subcarrier spacing and symbol length/duration are afunction of the numerology. The subcarrier spacing may be equal to2^(μ)×15 kHz, where μ is the numerology 0 to 5. As such, the numerologyμ=0 has a subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz and the numerology μ=5 has asubcarrier spacing of 480 kHz. The symbol length/duration is inverselyrelated to the subcarrier spacing. FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D provide anexample of slot configuration 0 with 14 symbols per slot and numerologyμ=2 with 4 slots per subframe. The slot duration is 0.25 ms, thesubcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, and the symbol duration is approximately16.67 μs.

A resource grid may be used to represent the frame structure. Each timeslot includes a RB (also referred to as physical RBs (PRBs)) thatextends 12 consecutive subcarriers. The resource grid is divided intomultiple REs. The number of bits carried by each RE depends on themodulation scheme.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, some of the REs carry reference (pilot)signals (RS) for a UE (e.g., UE 104 of FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The RS mayinclude demodulation RS (DM-RS) (indicated as Rx for one particularconfiguration, where 100× is the port number, but other DM-RSconfigurations are possible) and channel state information referencesignals (CSI-RS) for channel estimation at the UE. The RS may alsoinclude beam measurement RS (BRS), beam refinement RS (BRRS), and phasetracking RS (PT-RS).

FIG. 3B illustrates an example of various DL channels within a subframeof a frame. The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carries DCIwithin one or more control channel elements (CCEs), each CCE includingnine RE groups (REGs), each REG including four consecutive REs in anOFDM symbol.

A primary synchronization signal (PSS) may be within symbol 2 ofparticular subframes of a frame. The PSS is used by a UE (e.g., 104 ofFIGS. 1 and 2 ) to determine subframe/symbol timing and a physical layeridentity.

A secondary synchronization signal (SSS) may be within symbol 4 ofparticular subframes of a frame. The SSS is used by a UE to determine aphysical layer cell identity group number and radio frame timing.

Based on the physical layer identity and the physical layer cellidentity group number, the UE can determine a physical cell identifier(PCI). Based on the PCI, the UE can determine the locations of theaforementioned DM-RS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH), whichcarries a master information block (MIB), may be logically grouped withthe PSS and SSS to form a synchronization signal (SS)/PBCH block. TheMIB provides a number of RBs in the system bandwidth and a system framenumber (SFN). The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries userdata, broadcast system information not transmitted through the PBCH suchas system information blocks (SIBs), and paging messages.

As illustrated in FIG. 3C, some of the REs carry DM-RS (indicated as Rfor one particular configuration, but other DM-RS configurations arepossible) for channel estimation at the base station. The UE maytransmit DM-RS for the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and DM-RSfor the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The PUSCH DM-RS may betransmitted in the first one or two symbols of the PUSCH. The PUCCHDM-RS may be transmitted in different configurations depending onwhether short or long PUCCHs are transmitted and depending on theparticular PUCCH format used. The UE may transmit sounding referencesignals (SRS). The SRS may be transmitted in the last symbol of asubframe. The SRS may have a comb structure, and a UE may transmit SRSon one of the combs. The SRS may be used by a base station for channelquality estimation to enable frequency-dependent scheduling on the UL.

FIG. 3D illustrates an example of various UL channels within a subframeof a frame. The PUCCH may be located as indicated in one configuration.The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as schedulingrequests, a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrixindicator (PMI), a rank indicator (RI), and HARQ ACK/NACK feedback. ThePUSCH carries data, and may additionally be used to carry a bufferstatus report (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and/or UCI.

Additional Considerations

The preceding description provides examples of PEI locationdetermination in communication systems. The preceding description isprovided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the variousaspects described herein. The examples discussed herein are not limitingof the scope, applicability, or aspects set forth in the claims. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. For example, changes may be made in the function andarrangement of elements discussed without departing from the scope ofthe disclosure. Various examples may omit, substitute, or add variousprocedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methodsdescribed may be performed in an order different from that described,and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, featuresdescribed with respect to some examples may be combined in some otherexamples. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method maybe practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. Inaddition, the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such anapparatus or method that is practiced using other structure,functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to, or otherthan, the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It shouldbe understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may beembodied by one or more elements of a claim.

The techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunication technologies, such as 5G (e.g., 5G NR), 3GPP Long TermEvolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), code division multiple access(CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency divisionmultiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA), single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA),time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), andother networks. The terms “network” and “system” are often usedinterchangeably. A CDMA network may implement a radio technology such asUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), cdma2000, and others. UTRAincludes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. cdma2000covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. A TDMA network may implementa radio technology such as Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM). An OFDMA network may implement a radio technology such as NR(e.g. 5G RA), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDMA, andothers. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile TelecommunicationSystem (UMTS). LTE and LTE-A are releases of UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA,E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A and GSM are described in documents from anorganization named “3rd Generation Partnership Project” (3GPP). cdma2000and UMB are described in documents from an organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2). NR is an emerging wirelesscommunications technology under development.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules and circuits describedin connection with the present disclosure may be implemented orperformed with a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device (PLD),discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any commercially available processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, a system on a chip(SoC), or any other such configuration.

If implemented in hardware, an example hardware configuration maycomprise a processing system in a wireless node. The processing systemmay be implemented with a bus architecture. The bus may include anynumber of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specificapplication of the processing system and the overall design constraints.The bus may link together various circuits including a processor,machine-readable media, and a bus interface. The bus interface may beused to connect a network adapter, among other things, to the processingsystem via the bus. The network adapter may be used to implement thesignal processing functions of the physical (PHY) layer. In the case ofa user equipment (as in the example UE 104 of FIG. 1 ), a user interface(e.g., keypad, display, mouse, joystick, touchscreen, biometric sensor,proximity sensor, light emitting element, and others) may also beconnected to the bus. The bus may also link various other circuits suchas timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, power managementcircuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore,will not be described any further. The processor may be implemented withone or more general-purpose and/or special-purpose processors. Examplesinclude microprocessors, microcontrollers, DSP processors, and othercircuitry that can execute software. Those skilled in the art willrecognize how best to implement the described functionality for theprocessing system depending on the particular application and theoverall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored or transmittedover as one or more instructions or code on a computer readable medium.Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, data, or anycombination thereof, whether referred to as software, firmware,middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.Computer-readable media include both computer storage media andcommunication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of acomputer program from one place to another. The processor may beresponsible for managing the bus and general processing, including theexecution of software modules stored on the machine-readable storagemedia. A computer-readable storage medium may be coupled to a processorsuch that the processor can read information from, and write informationto, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may beintegral to the processor. By way of example, the machine-readable mediamay include a transmission line, a carrier wave modulated by data,and/or a computer readable storage medium with instructions storedthereon separate from the wireless node, all of which may be accessed bythe processor through the bus interface. Alternatively, or in addition,the machine-readable media, or any portion thereof, may be integratedinto the processor, such as the case may be with cache and/or generalregister files. Examples of machine-readable storage media may include,by way of example, RAM (Random Access Memory), flash memory, ROM (ReadOnly Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory), registers, magnetic disks, opticaldisks, hard drives, or any other suitable storage medium, or anycombination thereof. The machine-readable media may be embodied in acomputer-program product.

A software module may comprise a single instruction, or manyinstructions, and may be distributed over several different codesegments, among different programs, and across multiple storage media.The computer-readable media may comprise a number of software modules.The software modules include instructions that, when executed by anapparatus such as a processor, cause the processing system to performvarious functions. The software modules may include a transmissionmodule and a receiving module. Each software module may reside in asingle storage device or be distributed across multiple storage devices.By way of example, a software module may be loaded into RAM from a harddrive when a triggering event occurs. During execution of the softwaremodule, the processor may load some of the instructions into cache toincrease access speed. One or more cache lines may then be loaded into ageneral register file for execution by the processor. When referring tothe functionality of a software module below, it will be understood thatsuch functionality is implemented by the processor when executinginstructions from that software module.

As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of itemsrefers to any combination of those items, including single members. Asan example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c,a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples ofthe same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b,b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

As used herein, the term “determining” encompasses a wide variety ofactions. For example, “determining” may include calculating, computing,processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in atable, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like.Also, “determining” may include receiving (e.g., receiving information),accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also,“determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishingand the like.

The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions forachieving the methods. The method steps and/or actions may beinterchanged with one another without departing from the scope of theclaims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions isspecified, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may bemodified without departing from the scope of the claims. Further, thevarious operations of methods described above may be performed by anysuitable means capable of performing the corresponding functions. Themeans may include various hardware and/or software component(s) and/ormodule(s), including, but not limited to a circuit, an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), or processor. Generally, where thereare operations illustrated in figures, those operations may havecorresponding counterpart means-plus-function components with similarnumbering.

The following claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shownherein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with thelanguage of the claims. Within a claim, reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. No claim element is tobe construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless theelement is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in thecase of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “stepfor.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of thevarious aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known orlater come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art areexpressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to beencompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether suchdisclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of wireless communication by a userequipment (UE), comprising:  receiving, from a network entity, aconfiguration of a paging early indication (PEI) that indicates, formultiple paging occasions (POs) in multiple paging frames (PFs), whetherpaging physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) are scheduled in themultiple POs; identifying a reference PF from one of the multiple PFs;and monitoring for the PEI in a location of a PEI occasion determinedbased on the reference PF and at least one timing offset with respect toa start of the reference PF.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the atleast one timing offset comprises a frame-level timing offset and asymbol-level timing offset; and the UE determines the location of thePEI occasion by determining a reference point that is the frame-leveltiming offset before the start of the reference PF and determining astart of the PEI occasion that is the symbol-level timing offset beforethe reference point.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying thereference PF comprises identifying one of the multiple PFs whose startis offset, from a configured PDCCH monitoring occasion (PMO) of the PEIoccasion, by the frame-level timing offset and symbol-level timingoffset.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying one of themultiple PFs whose start is offset, from a configured PDCCH monitoringoccasion (PMO) of the PEI occasion, by the frame-level timing offset andsymbol-level timing offset comprises: evaluating candidate PEI occasionlocations derived for the multiple PFs, using the frame-level timingoffset and symbol-level timing offset, to identify the reference PF. 5.The method of claim 4, further comprising, if the UE is unable toidentify a PF whose start is offset, from the configured PMO of the PEIoccasion, by the frame-level timing offset and symbol-level timingoffset at least one of: skipping a PO and not process a paging PDCCH ina paging cycle; or ignoring the PEI and process a paging PDCCH in the POin the paging cycle.
 6. The method of claim 3, further comprisingreceiving, from the network entity, a periodicity and offset for the PMOof the PEI occasion as part of a search space set configuration.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the periodicity and offset are for a firstPMO of the PEI occasion.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein: theconfiguration configures a frame-level timing offset separately for eachPF in a paging cycle; and identifying the reference PF comprisesidentifying a PF for a PO of the UE as the reference PF.
 9. The methodof claim 8, further comprising: using the frame-level timing offsetconfigured for the PF for the PO of the UE to determine a location ofthe reference point; and using the symbol-level timing offset from thereference point to determine a start of the PEI occasion.
 10. The methodof claim 1, wherein identifying the reference PF is based on a startoffset configured by the network entity.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein: the start offset is defined based on a radio frame number; andthe reference PF is identified based on a modulo function involving theradio frame number, the start offset, and a time duration of themultiple PFs.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein: the start offset isdefined based on an index of a PF within a paging cycle; and thereference PF is identified based on a modulo function involving theindex of the PF within the paging cycle, the start offset, and a numberof the multiple PFs.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying thereference PF comprises: identifying one of the multiple PFs that has anodd index as the reference PF; or identifying one of the multiple PFsthat has an even index as the reference PF.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein all POs within the multiple PFs are mapped to the PEI.
 15. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the multiple PFs are within a same pagingcycle.
 16. A method of wireless communication by a network entity,comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a configuration of apaging early indication (PEI) that indicates, for multiple pagingoccasions (POs) in multiple paging frames (PFs), whether paging physicaldownlink control channels (PDCCHs) are scheduled in the multiple POs;identifying a reference PF from one of the multiple PFs; andtransmitting a PEI in a location of a PEI occasion determined based onthe reference PF and at least one timing offset with respect to a startof the reference PF.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein: the at leastone timing offset comprises a frame-level timing offset and asymbol-level timing offset; and the network entity determines thelocation of the PEI occasion by determining a reference point that isthe frame-level timing offset before the start of the reference PF anddetermining a start of the PEI occasion that is the symbol-level timingoffset before the reference point.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinidentifying the reference PF comprises identifying one of the multiplePFs whose start is offset, from a configured PDCCH monitoring occasion(PMO) of the PEI occasion, by the frame-level timing offset andsymbol-level timing offset.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein aperiodicity and offset for the PMO of the PEI occasion are provided bythe network entity as part of a search space set configuration.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the periodicity and offset provided by thenetwork entity are for a first PMO of the PEI occasion.
 21. The methodof claim 17, wherein: the configuration configures a frame-level timingoffset separately for each PF in a paging cycle; and identifying thereference PF comprises identifying a PF for a PO of the UE as thereference PF.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: using theframe-level timing offset configured for the PF for the PO of the UE todetermine a location of the reference point; and using the symbol-leveltiming offset from the reference point to determine a start of the PEIoccasion.
 23. The method of claim 16, wherein identifying the referencePF is based on a start offset configured by the network entity.
 24. Themethod of claim 23, wherein: the start offset is defined based on aradio frame number; and the reference PF is identified based on a modulofunction involving the radio frame number, the start offset, and a timeduration of the multiple PFs.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein: thestart offset is defined based on an index of a PF within a paging cycle;and the reference PF is identified based on a modulo function involvingthe index of the PF within the paging cycle, the start offset, and anumber of the multiple PFs.
 26. The method of claim 16, whereinidentifying the reference PF comprises: identifying one of the multiplePFs that has an odd index as the reference PF; or identifying one of themultiple PFs that has an even index as the reference PF.
 27. The methodof claim 16, wherein all POs within the multiple PFs are mapped to thePEI.
 28. The method of claim 16, wherein the multiple PFs are within asame paging cycle.
 29. A user equipment (UE) configured for wirelesscommunications, comprising: one or more memories comprising executableinstructions; and one or more processors configured to executable theinstructions and cause the UE to: receive, from a network entity, aconfiguration of a paging early indication (PEI) that indicates, formultiple paging occasions (POs) in multiple paging frames (PFs), whetherpaging physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) are scheduled in themultiple POs; identify a reference PF from one of the multiple PFs; andmonitor for the PEI in a location of a PEI occasion determined based onthe reference PF and at least one timing offset with respect to a startof the reference PF.
 30. The UE of claim 29, wherein: the at least onetiming offset comprises a frame-level timing offset and a symbol-leveltiming offset; and the one or more processors are configured to executethe instructions and cause the UE to determine a reference point that isthe frame-level timing offset before the start of the reference PF andto determine a start of the PEI occasion that is the symbol-level timingoffset before the reference point.
 31. The UE of claim 30, wherein theone or more processors are configured to execute the instructions andcause the UE to identify one of the multiple PFs whose start is offset,from a configured PDCCH monitoring occasion (PMO) of the PEI occasion,by the frame-level timing offset and the symbol-level timing offset. 32.The UE of claim 31, wherein the one or more processors are configured toexecute the instructions and cause the UE to evaluate candidate PEIoccasion locations derived for the multiple PFs, using the frame-leveltiming offset and the symbol-level timing offset, to identify thereference PF.
 33. The UE of claim 32, wherein the one or more processorsare configured to execute the instructions and cause the UE to at leastone of: skip a PO and not process a paging PDCCH in a paging cycle; orignore the PEI and process a paging PDCCH in the PO in the paging cycle.34. The UE of claim 31, wherein the one or more processors areconfigured to execute the instructions and cause the UE to receive, fromthe network entity, a periodicity and offset for the PMO of the PEIoccasion as part of a search space set configuration.
 35. The UE ofclaim 34, wherein the periodicity and offset are for a first PMO of thePEI occasion.
 36. The UE of claim 30, wherein: the configurationconfigures a frame-level timing offset separately for each PF in apaging cycle; and the one or more processors are configured to executethe instructions and cause the UE to identify a PF for a PO of the UE asthe reference PF.
 37. The UE of claim 36, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to execute the instructions and cause the UEto: use the frame-level timing offset configured for the PF for the POof the UE to determine a location of the reference point; and use thesymbol-level timing offset from the reference point to determine a startof the PEI occasion.
 38. The UE of claim 29, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to execute the instructions and cause the UEto identify the reference PF based on a start offset configured by thenetwork entity.
 39. The UE of claim 38, wherein: the start offset isdefined based on a radio frame number; and the one or more processorsare configured to execute the instructions and cause the UE to identifythe reference PF based on a modulo function involving the radio framenumber, the start offset, and a time duration of the multiple PFs. 40.The UE of claim 38, wherein: the start offset is defined based on anindex of a PF within a paging cycle; and the one or more processors areconfigured to execute the instructions and cause the UE to identify thereference PF based on a modulo function involving the index of the PFwithin the paging cycle, the start offset, and a number of the multiplePFs.
 41. The UE of claim 29, wherein the one or more processors areconfigured to execute the instructions and cause the UE to: identify oneof the multiple PFs that has an odd index as the reference PF; oridentify one of the multiple PFs that has an even index as the referencePF.
 42. The UE of claim 29, wherein all POs within the multiple PFs aremapped to the PEI.
 43. The UE of claim 29, wherein the multiple PFs arewithin a same paging cycle.
 44. A network entity configured for wirelesscommunications, comprising: one or more memories comprising executableinstructions; and one or more processors configured to execute theinstructions and cause the network entity to: transmit, to a userequipment (UE), a configuration of a paging early indication (PEI) thatindicates, for multiple paging occasions (POs) in multiple paging frames(PFs), whether paging physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) arescheduled in the multiple POs; identify a reference PF from one of themultiple PFs; and transmit a PEI in a location of a PEI occasiondetermined based on the reference PF and at least one timing offset withrespect to a start of the reference PF.
 45. The network entity of claim44, wherein: the at least one timing offset comprises a frame-leveltiming offset and a symbol-level timing offset; and the one or moreprocessors are configured to execute the instructions and cause thenetwork entity to determine a reference point that is the frame-leveltiming offset before the start of the reference PF and to determine astart of the PEI occasion that is the symbol-level timing offset beforethe reference point.
 46. The network entity of claim 45, wherein the oneor more processors are configured to execute the instructions and causethe network entity to identify one of the multiple PFs whose start isoffset, from a configured PDCCH monitoring occasion (PMO) of the PEIoccasion, by the frame-level timing offset and the symbol-level timingoffset.
 47. The network entity of claim 46, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to execute the instructions and cause thenetwork entity to transmit, to the UE, a periodicity and offset for thePMO of the PEI occasion as part of a search space set configuration. 48.The network entity of claim 47, wherein the periodicity and offset arefor a first PMO of the PEI occasion.
 49. The network entity of claim 45,wherein: the configuration configures a frame-level timing offsetseparately for each PF in a paging cycle; and the one or more processorsare configured to execute the instructions and cause the network entityto identify a PF for a PO of the UE as the reference PF.
 50. The networkentity of claim 49, wherein the one or more processors are configured toexecute the instructions and cause the network entity to: use theframe-level timing offset configured for the PF for the PO of the UE todetermine a location of the reference point; and use the symbol-leveltiming offset from the reference point to determine a start of the PEIoccasion.
 51. The network entity of claim 44, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to execute the instructions and cause thenetwork entity to identify the reference PF based on a start offsetconfigured by the network entity.
 52. The network entity of claim 51,wherein: the start offset is defined based on a radio frame number; andthe one or more processors are configured to execute the instructionsand cause the network entity to identify the reference PF based on amodulo function involving the radio frame number, the start offset, anda time duration of the multiple PFs.
 53. The network entity of claim 52,wherein: the start offset is defined based on an index of a PF within apaging cycle; and the one or more processors are configured to executethe instructions and cause the network entity to identify the referencePF based on a modulo function involving the index of the PF within thepaging cycle, the start offset, and a number of the multiple PFs. 54.The network entity of claim 44, wherein the one or more processors areconfigured to execute the instructions and cause the network entity to:identify one of the multiple PFs that has an odd index as the referencePF; or identify one of the multiple PFs that has an even index as thereference PF.
 55. The network entity of claim 44, wherein all POs withinthe multiple PFs are mapped to the PEI.
 56. The network entity of claim44, wherein the multiple PFs are within a same paging cycle.